The Trial of Brother Oloyede: A Deep Dive into Truth, Power, and Controversy
Since that video began to circulate, my entire family has experienced trauma. I stole a quick peek. We are on trial. I’m on trial. Oloyede is sincere. He is the most honest. He also exhibits modesty. But Allah knows best for us.
On what I thought was a dismal Wednesday, May 14, 2025, I was with a dealer in the afternoon. “Jambo won ni o get mo bayi.” I had to get right in. Which JAMB? That’s someone I will vouch for, ma’am—no room for corruption.
Completely accountable and highly sensitive to others’ well-being. I agree that he should bear all the pleasantries and other burdens if something went wrong at JAMB, but keep in mind that the negative aspects of the operations might as well constitute sabotage. That man has my utmost trust. Ask my coworkers about me, but Oloyede, whom I have known for over 40 years, is my personal idol.
This is by no means a reductionist approach to the catastrophe brought on by the alleged computer error. May the parents of the candidate who was believed to have committed suicide find comfort in the boundless mercy of the Almighty God. May God give them the strength to go through this difficult time in their lives and provide them with abundant rewards that will last a lifetime. Carrying out catastrophes of this size is difficult. I have sympathy for these parents.
May we never experience the aforementioned computer malfunction. I’m referring to those who work for large organizations that need a complex ICT operating layout.
Instead of offering solutions, IT facilities can occasionally cause unthinkable problems despite being essential in our era of civilization. This does not raise the possibility of intentional sabotage, as was the situation with JAMB. I can attest to Oloyede’s dedication to giving it his all for the otherwise sinking board because I was a part of his JAMB journey.
During the just-finished exam, Tunji Alausa, the Education Minister, was given a tour of the vital JAMB facilities by the Oloyede-led JAMB team, who were far from being only cosmetic exhibitionists.
Alausa witnessed, for the first time in this nation, the progress made by JAMB in its pursuit of openness and real-time oversight of the administration of exams across the nation. Beyond being amazed, Alausa wanted the JAMB effect to spread right away to other testing organizations.
No, the WAEC team arrived at JAMB that same day and entered the situation room, which was my duty station. The NECO team then did the same under the capable guidance of Damilola Bamiro, the dependable head IT consultant who has been there since Oloyede took over.
Suddenly, the employees of WAEC and NECO were required to go on a professional tour that included a tour of all the digital facilities and real-time monitoring displays. They were amazed by what they witnessed, which demonstrated a functional leader-subordinate synergy with innovative output that the world might observe and take inspiration from.
However, that might even be the beginning of what the nation’s leading symbol of honesty in public service has accomplished through dedication and hard work. Oloyede had made several far more ostensibly significant advances at JAMB. As a dedicated researcher, he consistently makes sure that every aspect of the Board’s experience is valued as relevant information to direct future activities and even as topics for further study.
Even Nigeria’s emergency response authorities couldn’t have been as quick as Oloyede management on this unsightly glitch story. After the complainants started expressing their opinions in public, JAMB took up the cause without adopting the customary haughty attitude that the government is always correct. I knew that Adeola Soetan, a former student leader at Obafemi Awolowo University and a particularly vehement public critic, had praised the JAMB spokesman for her outstanding handling of public concerns.
To solve the riddle that led to the very dismal position that we are currently facing, an impartial team of detectives was promptly established.
The panel, which was composed of a variety of technically related constituents, discovered that at least 165 out of the 800 exam locations around the country were impacted.
He confronted the task of accepting the surrender value and telling the world the truth, clearly well-prepared for whatever the consequence may be. This struggle is for everyone who has faith in Oloyede. In this group, I am undoubtedly present. I became infected by his public outcry. It was a cry of patriotism for his cherished nation.
As evidenced by a brief note to me, Dr. Kilani was just as affected as I was, a former law student at LASU: I write to associate myself with the pain, sorrow, and emotion of our own Professor Oloyede. As I watched him cry, I was unable to control my tears. May Almighty Allah see him through. May we all not be put to shame…”
However, my cousin Gbade Osunsoko then offered a consoling message: “He will emerge from this much stronger because Nigerians will trust him far better than a number of our leaders.” In Nigeria, it is highly valued when a man accepts responsibility for his mistakes.
Oloyede provides sufficient provisions for the admission of young Nigerians with visual impairments in the UTME, removing the need for them to constantly lament their lot in life. As required by the SDGs, how many of our public facilities are inclusive?
Why would the game-changing leader, who has remained humble throughout, cause a legacy that has been established over nearly ten years at the highest conceivable expense to fall apart? Under Oloyede, JAMB has consistently persevered in completing its obligations to the satisfaction of stakeholders both domestically and abroad. As recipients, NNPC and the Nigeria Police can vouch for JAMB’s present proficiency.
How many additional stakeholders across the country, who were once thought to be unimportant to JAMB before Oloyede, have since emerged as crucial, if not essential, players?
But why is this unexpectedly depressing experience endangering our untarnished joy of service? Why is a fantastic story from Africa being abruptly and purposefully cut short? Whodunit? The truth will undoubtedly surface so that everyone can see, evaluate, and recognize the amount of work and dedication put into Oloyede’s JAMB excellence project.
One cannot help but feel extremely concerned. Professor Oloyede’s concern for real growth and development was genuine before the very eyes of a select few of us who were carefully chosen to support him from our respective professional perspectives from the beginning. It is still real and becoming more so. It is truly unique. Everything will work out. Tunde Akanni, PhD, is a professor of journalism and development communications at Lagos State University, LASU. You can follow him on X:@AkintundeAkanni.
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